Market Square

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Has anyone ever told you about Market Square’s secret life? Market Square wasn’t always the tech hub it is today. This Art Deco giant, at 1355 Market Street, started as a furniture haven. Imagine a bustling marketplace, filled with the latest designs. Retailers and wholesalers flocked to Market Square, then known as the Western Furniture Exchange and Merchandise Mart. It opened with a flourish in 1937, a beacon of hope during the Depression. Mayor Angelo Joseph Rossi himself praised it as “San Francisco’s answer to the Depression.” Market Square thrived for decades, expanding and evolving. A wartime warehouse, new wings, even a radio station broadcasting from its rooftop. But times changed. The furniture trade shifted, and Market Square fell into decline. By the early 2000s, the once-vibrant marketplace was practically a ghost town. But Market Square wasn’t ready to fade away. Shorenstein Properties saw potential. They transformed Market Square into a modern office space, attracting tech giants like Twitter. The building became known as the “Twitter Building”, a symbol of San Francisco’s tech boom. Even a gleaming new skyway was added, connecting Market Square to its neighboring building. Though Twitter, later renamed X, eventually moved on, Market Square remains. A testament to its enduring spirit, a reminder of its vibrant past, and a promise of an exciting future.

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